Mikel Arteta reveals worrying new injury doubt ahead of Man City clash – after star player was left out of Arsenal’s win over Girona

Mikel Arteta has revealed one of his stars missed Arsenal‘s clash with Girona through injury.

Ahead of the final game of the revamped Champions League league stage the Spaniard made several changes to the side that defeated Wolves on Saturday.

And despite going behind on Wednesday night after Arnaut Danjuma opened the scoring for the hosts, goals from Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri would ultimately turn the tide for the rotated Gunners. 

Victory saw the club qualify automatically for the round of 16 in March, with attentions turning firmly back to the domestic campaign in the interim.

On Sunday Arsenal play host to Manchester City as they look to keep the pressure on league leaders Liverpool.

However, they may be without one of their key players at the Emirates after Arteta revealed David Raya had missed Wednesday’s European fixture through injury.

In Raya’s absence, Brazilian goalkeeper Neto was given his first start since joining the club on loan from Bournemouth

The Gunners’ first-choice ‘keeper is now a doubt for their clash with Man City on Sunday

It was initially assumed that Arteta had simply elected to rest his first-choice ‘keeper ahead of Sunday’s showdown, but the Gunners boss later revealed to the contrary.

He said: ‘Yeah, he’s not fit. Apart from that, if there is a player who deserves a chance then it’s Neto.’

Speaking after the game, Arteta added: ‘He certainly could not play, he is injured and that is it.’

With Raya unavailable, at the Estadi Montilivi Arteta handed a first Arsenal appearance to Neto, who joined the club on a season-long loan from Bournemouth on deadline day last summer.

At 35, the one-cap Brazilian international became Arsenal’s oldest debutant for more than a century.

Should Raya be unavailable to face Pep Guardiola’s side this weekend, Neto would be Arsenal’s only senior goalkeeper, with youngster Tommy Setford likely to be named on the bench.

Raya has been ever-present for the Gunners in the Premier League last season, and last missed a league game for the club in March of last year after being unable to play against then-parent club Brentford.